The algae is done, gone, outta here! So are most of the weed beds. The lake level is very low for this time of year and you may not have some of the traditional spots in McGee Bay and the North Arm fishable due to this low level of water. Many of my GPS locations that I have guided in August over the last decade are high and dry! Nevertheless fishing is still pretty dang good most days and the lake level is receding at a pace that is enabling the chironomids to emerge in full force. There have been strong hatches all over the lake with McGee Bay still holding the most fish. I suggest you stay out in ten feet of water on most days. It has been more consistent out here. The exceptions here are late afternoons with a west breeze on the water, or early am's before the fleet arrives in force. You Still Water Classic participants need to consider this when anchoring up. Don't get yourself pinned in short water for a few quick scores in the morning, then get the big banana as the sun rises and the boats block the feed of fish into your area. We are sticking them out to fourteen feet some days and there is plenty of fishy open water to work outside along the south shore and towards Sometimes Bay.

You will see fish crashing on adult damsels hovering near the surface looking for a midge to gobble up on a regular basis. The damsels have been thick this year due to the very warm water. The larger trout are punishing the stray perch fry, or damsel nymphs at times migrating with a scum line.

The North Arm of the lake also has decent numbers of fish, and they are increasing in number every day. The big move here will be very soon. If you are planning a trip and wish to tube Crowley I suggest you give this a try. If you drive past Benton Crossing to the Layton Springs turnoff and CAREFULLY navigate on the dry upper shoreline towards Big Weed Beach you can get closer to Green Banks and not have to pay a use fee. 4X4's ONLY!!! Hiltons have been spotty, but are a good choice if you get a strong east wind. Stay out in ten or more feet in both areas. There are some fish into eight feet in the North Arm and they are mixed in with what is left of the weed beds here.

GUIDE TIP: Chironomid (midge) larvas live on the bottom in a very oxygen poor environment. They have gills on both ends of their bodies to process oxygen more efficiently, built like a tiny worm with well defined segmentation along the entire abdomen. They can be bright red, or rusty in color. This is due to the large amount of hemoglobin present in the crude vascular system they possess. Hence the popular name "blood midge." In most instances with water deeper than eight feet, or in murky conditions, infrared wave lengths of light do not penetrate below that depth. This makes the bright red larva?ĶGRAY! Nature designed this to hide the larva, NOT make it stand out. If you want a color that is accentuated near the bottom, choose purple, blue, or black. Ultraviolet light is a higher frequency and penetrates the water column better making these colors stand out. Understanding this simple concept about the visible light spectrum will help you achieve your goals as to whether or not you are trying to make your flies stand out, or blend in and look more natural. Fish do not have deductive powers of reasoning, and are opportunistic, programmed creatures, at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Sometimes you may want fish to see your fly better, especially in deeper or murky water. Clean water with a high bright sun may alter your game plan. Use this guide tip to select your color, and experiment with variations to get more grabs!

Stick to #16-18 tigers and zebras as your lower. Gillies, pupa, or emergers as twins #18-20 during the hatch and hung a foot higher than if you have a larva pattern like the tiger midge as a dropper. Another hot rig for us as of late has been twin bead head PT's #14-18. Put the larger fly on top (as is always the case) in any multi fly rig.

Streamer tuggers will do OK with damsel fly nymphs, Punk Perch, and Loebergs #10-14. Better weed lines in the North Arm for you kids wishing to get grabs this way.

Big City Fly Fish'N gals Lisa, Caitlyn and Marisa all got their first trout on flies with us recently. Big City Guide T. Loe was all smiles for this trip!

Sweet Shannon always gets her way! She asked for a big brown, she got it! Thanks for this trip Robert O!!!

Lovely Lisa put the wood on many Crowley rainbows this day. Impressive numbers for this fly Fish'N gal!

Gorgeous Fly Fish'N gal and firefighter Chelsea covered a lot of water with this nice brown being her largest fish caught on the trip.

Beautiful on the inside, as well as out Carolyn, is a long time Fly Fish'N gal of the Sierra Drifters family. Shown here schooling a Crowley Rainbow.

Talk about making a beautiful scene more beautiful! Jennifer gets her first on the fly at Crowley then enhances the scenery on the Upper Owens with one she fooled while high sticking. It was a rough couple of days for Doug R and T. Loe?ĶWhatever!!!